Psychology

Can psilocybin make people feel more empathy to nature?

Therefore, in the context of the ideals, values, and constructs of the time we are presently living in, it would be useful to frame the imminent threat to our planet’s natural ecology and to humankind, radically, as something along the lines of an “anti-nature personality disorder,” medically sanctioning judgment on individual or group behavior that pathologically…

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Modern Culture

5 myths about psychedelics that we need to stop spreading

Psychedelics can make almost any idea feel like a life-changing epiphany, but these ideas need to be scrutinized post-trip to separate the gemstones from the fool’s gold … In order to use psychedelics to their full potential both individually and collectively, we need to be brutally honest about what they are, and what they aren’t. (eg. some people simply…

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Anthropology

União do Vegetal, Looking Glass Peyote Church, Santo Daime

In the União do Vegetal (UDV), leadership is elected.  UDV is organized across a four-tier hierarchical structure, the upper level is not accessible to women. ​In Looking Glass Peyote Church, peyote requires a DNA test previous to use.​Santo Daime, political power is based on the charisma of their leaders, with the succession going to their kin. From…

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FDA death data on kratom linked to adulterated products, not the kratom plant itself

“The FDA appears to be deliberately violating the provisions of the Information Quality Act by widely disseminating incomplete, inaccurate, biased, and unreproducible information to local medical examiners and coroners, incorrectly blaming kratom for deaths that were actually caused by polydrug use or deliberately adulterated kratom products.” NIDA’s conclusion following its extensive review of whether a…

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Medicine/Healing

Many ex-opioid addicts credit [iboga plant] with cure, but it’s “illegal” in US

*Even though methadone is used in addiction treatment, it is still an opioid, meaning that it fosters physical dependence.​ “A lot of serious psychiatrists who wanted to use drugs — like ecstasy — to augment psychiatric treatment were shot down brutally. They could not get support or funding.” To be sure, ibogaine has triggered seizures and heart-related…

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Medicine/Healing

First clinical trial of MDMA treatment for autistic adults sees success

“These findings show that MDMA and psychotherapy can help people, maybe by giving people a whole new set of experiences with social interactions,” said Dr. Jerome. “MDMA isn’t giving people something they didn’t have already, it’s helping them use what they had all along.” The study participants who were given MDMA reported an improvement in their…

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Modern Culture

Activists in Oregon fight for cannabis consumption lounges

“Most states already have an Indoor Clean Air Act, which prevents cigarette smoking inside,” Martinez tells High Times. “After legalization passed in Oregon, someone specifically added cannabinoids to the state’s Indoor Clean Air Act, so we would like to get that reversed.​The bill would not only allow stand-alone cannabis cafes, it would also permit licensed…

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Medicine/Healing

Positive outcomes after ibogaine detoxification linked to persisting changes in mood and life perspective

“Without adequate support following this treatment, it is quite difficult for people to be successful in their recovery from opioid addiction. Nevertheless, for those that are able to maintain abstinence or reduce their opioid use, they reported improvements in overall health, mood, and their sense of positive motions/perspectives in life, which they attributed at least…

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Politics

Drug policy coalition urges US Congress to oppose inclusion of the Stop the Importation and Trafficking of Scheduled Analogues (SITSA) (H.R. 2851/S. 1327) act in the House (H.R. 6) and Senate Opioid Package (S. 2680)

*excerpt from full letter Those on both sides of the political spectrum recognize the damaging impact that SITSA could have should it pass, and wish to see drug policies that are health-centered … SITSA would give the Jeff Sessions virtually unlimited authority to create new drug crimes that carry lengthy, expensive prison sentences … SITSA would grant the attorney general…

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